Tuition centre plan refused over safety and parking fears
A PLANNING application for a new tuition centre has been refused by Rochdale council, despite gathering 140 letters of support.
The 2 Plover Close facility would have been used for after-school education of students who wanted additional help.
It would have also incorporated a one bedroom flat for one of the four staff members for “security reasons”.
However, council officers worried about the potential safeguarding issues that such a living situation could cause and felt it would cause an unacceptable level of noise and disturbance to the Bamford area.
A total of 75 letters of objection were received, citing concerns over an increase in traffic, the potential for increased anti-social behaviour and the impact on the character of the area.
The application was refused by council officers, saying the proposed layout failed to provide kitchen facilities for users meaning the only way to get drinking water would be from the bathroom or by going through the staff member’s bedroom.
They added: “That the bedroom of the residential use would open into the communal area used by students raises concern in respect of the safeguarding of children.
“It must be made clear that in no way is there any assertion that the applicant is not a fit and proper person to run such a facility, but the proposed layout would severely limit the ability to ensure that adequate safeguards could be put in place and enforced.”
Furthermore, the proposed change would see a “significant intensification” in use of the building and cause significant harm to the living conditions of neighbours.
They added that there was insufficient parking and drop off facilities to serve the proposed use.
Supporting documents for applicant Mr Muhammad Muther’s scheme said typical students would have come for a wide range of reasons, including those who were having difficulty in English or maths, as well as those aiming for top A*/9 grades.
Approximately 15-18 students, from 11+ to GCSE, would have visited the centre at any one time.
The application argued that as their intake would largely come from local residents - who would be walking - there would be just two parking spaces available.
They added that off street parking would be available for “quick pick up and drop off” and that the nearest public parking would be available after school from 3.30-7pm at Bamford precinct car park.
It was proposed that the centre would operate from 4-7pm midweek and 10am-5pm at weekends.
A total of 140 letters of support were received, from a large geographic spread, citing the lack of such a facility in the Bamford area, the benefit it would bring to the local community and how it would boost ‘educational attainment.’